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| Clinton: US shares blame on drugs | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said the US must take part of the blame for drug-related violence in Mexico on a visit to the country. | |
| She said the US appetite for drugs and inability to stop arms crossing the border were helping fuel violence. | |
| Mrs Clinton's visit comes a day after the Obama administration announced new measures to boost border security. | Mrs Clinton's visit comes a day after the Obama administration announced new measures to boost border security. |
| Some 8,000 people have died in drug-related violence in Mexico over the past two years. | |
| Trade and immigration issues are also expected to be high on Mrs Clinton's agenda. | |
| 'Co-responsibility' | 'Co-responsibility' |
| "Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade," Mrs Clinton said upon arrival in Mexico. | "Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade," Mrs Clinton said upon arrival in Mexico. |
| We need to do more to make sure that illegal guns and cash aren't flowing back to the cartels US President Barack Obama Mexico arrests 'top drugs hitman' | We need to do more to make sure that illegal guns and cash aren't flowing back to the cartels US President Barack Obama Mexico arrests 'top drugs hitman' |
| "Our inability to prevent weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the deaths of police officers, soldiers and civilians. | "Our inability to prevent weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the deaths of police officers, soldiers and civilians. |
| "I feel very strongly we have a co-responsibility." | "I feel very strongly we have a co-responsibility." |
| Mexico and the US are currently locked in a trade dispute, after the US government stopped a pilot scheme earlier this month which allowed Mexican trucks to use roads in the US. | Mexico and the US are currently locked in a trade dispute, after the US government stopped a pilot scheme earlier this month which allowed Mexican trucks to use roads in the US. |
| Mexico said the decision violated a free-trade deal between the countries and retaliated by imposing higher tariffs on some 90 American exports. | Mexico said the decision violated a free-trade deal between the countries and retaliated by imposing higher tariffs on some 90 American exports. |
| In signs of movement on the issue, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and other Obama administration officials have reportedly been working on plans to revive the scheme. | In signs of movement on the issue, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and other Obama administration officials have reportedly been working on plans to revive the scheme. |
| Mexico's Economy Minister Gerardo Ruiz Mateos said on Tuesday that his country would lift its tariffs as soon as the US returned to its "agreed commitments" on access for its trucks. | Mexico's Economy Minister Gerardo Ruiz Mateos said on Tuesday that his country would lift its tariffs as soon as the US returned to its "agreed commitments" on access for its trucks. |
| Illegal guns | Illegal guns |
| But it is the drugs-related violence in Mexico that is likely to be the focus of Mrs Clinton's discussions. | But it is the drugs-related violence in Mexico that is likely to be the focus of Mrs Clinton's discussions. |
| On Tuesday, the White House unveiled a $700m (£745m) strategy that includes boosting security on the border, moves to stem the flow of illegal guns and drug profits from the US into Mexico, and steps to cut domestic drug consumption. | On Tuesday, the White House unveiled a $700m (£745m) strategy that includes boosting security on the border, moves to stem the flow of illegal guns and drug profits from the US into Mexico, and steps to cut domestic drug consumption. |
| See the Mexican cartels' main areas of influence | See the Mexican cartels' main areas of influence |
| "We need to do more to make sure that illegal guns and cash aren't flowing back to the cartels," said President Barack Obama. | "We need to do more to make sure that illegal guns and cash aren't flowing back to the cartels," said President Barack Obama. |
| "That's part of what is financing their operations. That's part of what is arming them." | "That's part of what is financing their operations. That's part of what is arming them." |
| Mrs Clinton's two-day trip is expected to include stops in Mexico City and Monterrey, taking in talks with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa. | Mrs Clinton's two-day trip is expected to include stops in Mexico City and Monterrey, taking in talks with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa. |
| More agents will be sent to patrol America's southern border with Mexico | More agents will be sent to patrol America's southern border with Mexico |
| It is the first in a series of visits by high-level officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Eric Holder, before Mr Obama himself visits Mexico in mid-April. | It is the first in a series of visits by high-level officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Eric Holder, before Mr Obama himself visits Mexico in mid-April. |
| BBC state department Kim Ghattas says the focus on Mexico is a clear sign that Washington is worried about the situation there, but also that it believes it needs to help its southern neighbour. | BBC state department Kim Ghattas says the focus on Mexico is a clear sign that Washington is worried about the situation there, but also that it believes it needs to help its southern neighbour. |
| A senior state department official said the Obama administration believed there was a shared responsibility in solving the problem of drug-related violence, fuelled by supply and demand across the border. | A senior state department official said the Obama administration believed there was a shared responsibility in solving the problem of drug-related violence, fuelled by supply and demand across the border. |
| The senior US official also said Washington wanted a comprehensive engagement with Mexico and was intent on making sure the relationship would not be defined by the cartel-related violence. | The senior US official also said Washington wanted a comprehensive engagement with Mexico and was intent on making sure the relationship would not be defined by the cartel-related violence. |
| Mexican authorities announced on Wednesday that soldiers had detained one of the nation's alleged 37 top drug-traffickers. | Mexican authorities announced on Wednesday that soldiers had detained one of the nation's alleged 37 top drug-traffickers. |
| Hector Huerta Rios, said by the authorities to control the Monterrey operations of the Beltran Leyva cartel, was named on a "most wanted" list issued by the attorney general on Monday. | Hector Huerta Rios, said by the authorities to control the Monterrey operations of the Beltran Leyva cartel, was named on a "most wanted" list issued by the attorney general on Monday. |
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